The fantastic news is that the transfer window, as enjoyable as it’s been up to now, takes a back seat tomorrow, as we get down to the nitty-gritty, which is the actual playing of the game.
I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking, quite frankly, it can’t come soon enough.
This is a great fixture to be played at this time of year and especially as the opening game of the season, as I really like Bournemouth and would have loved a weekend down there, particularly with the weather looking pretty good.
Work meant there was no hope of that though and given that the capacity of Dean Court is sub-12,000, it meant there were only 1,500 tickets available anyway, which quite rightly get offered to the usual travellers first.
You just know the atmosphere is going to be superb and I’m jealous of anyone who will be going.
So onto the game then and the latest injury news that I see on the Beeb, is that we have Jack Grealish, Carles Gil and Carlos Sanchez as possible doubts, while Jores Okore is definitely out with a knee injury.
For Bournemouth, Harry Arter will miss the game and loanee Christian Atsu is a doubt.
They might start new signings Max Gradel, Lee Tomlin and Sylvain Distin.
Whereas I don’t have a clue who will start for the Villa.
Of the new signings, you can bet Micah Richards, Jordan Amavi and Idrissa Gueye will get a game, but then it’s all up in the air.
I also don’t have many clues as to how we’ll approach this one, save to say that I think Bournemouth will come at us, which means I think we’ll respond in kind. It’s Sherwood’s instinctive way of playing, it seems and I have to hold my hands up and say I haven’t been at all convinced by our defence in the pre-season friendlies, even though my head tells me those games mean nothing.
Bournemouth will be going all out to get off on the right foot and you know they’re going to work their guts out.
We have to be equal to that and if we aren’t, I see this as a really big possible banana skin.
Previous form in opening games doesn’t give many clues for us either, as although we lost to Stoke at home last season, didn’t we beat Arsenal away 3-0, the season before?
In short, I see nothing other than more than four goals.
So seeing as it isn’t going to be two each, I have to choose, although it’s pure guesswork, based on nothing whatsoever.
Sadly, I’m going for a 3-2 loss, but I’ve been thinking all week it’ll actually be a 4-3 loss, because we’ll have been caught cold very early in the game.
Of course, I hope I’m wrong, but it’s just the way I see it.
Then again, to make you all feel better, we might give them a shoeing; I really don’t know.
My heart says it’ll be one each, which would do me, but I have my doubts.
As I said, I haven’t got a clue how this game will go.
I’ve added a poll, as I think the results will be interesting.
1-4 VILLA I’ve woke up feeling even more positive, oh we do like to be beside the seaside.UTV COYL 😀
all the best to my giants of Aston this season. I’ll be watching from Korea & whatever happens, it’s gonna be interesting. VTID
Bournemouth 2-3 Villa. Fed up of the Bournemouth love in with the media – they did the same before the FA Cup game too and probably were gutted we won. They’ve been heavily financially backed by lower league standards to get where they are.
Anyway, I would like to see us starting with the following………
Guzan
Bacuna
Richards
Clarke
Amavi
Westwood
Geuye
Veretout
Ayew
Kozak
Sinclair
Big hopes for today as we step in to the unknown. UTV.
Is Gestede injured??????
Just read that adebayore wants to commute from london ,sherwood should fuck him right off cheeky prick.
Tell him to do one. We did the same with Pires had a chauffeur driven limousine for him outrageous. Sherwood is embarrassing the way he’s chasing after this useless mercenary I just don’t get why he’s desperate to sign him
I’m just watching soccer Saturday and I can see all the pundits have started their predictable love fest over the sky4. Anyone would think there were only 5 teams in the premiership. It’s sickening.
It’s f*****g insulting isn’t it. That’s why I’d rather they piss off and form a Euro League and play each other 4 times a season. Watch all the so called big boys fight it out for one trophy. If ‘the rest’ of us who just make up the numbers pulled away, those ten or so European teams would look very silly.
Gabbys starting FFS
what a joke .
now iv said that he will score,
bring it on
https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/11825643_782421768537561_5064475946011603419_n.jpg?oh=6ffe4c211371442a394c3a413c0774e9&oe=56828936
Think we may counter attack today just a little with that front 3:-D
No issue with it. We have always been successful that way away from home but this year we can setup very different at home with the players acquired.
a big problem with villa over the last few years has been the fact that all the managers feel they have to pick gabby (the local lad).
really disappointed that he is starting.
the one remaining common denominater in us being poor.
on his day great but those are far too infrequent.
gabby please prove me wrong.
Gestede to come on to change the game. At last we have options. Surprised Kozak is missing….. Hmmmm.
Line up:
Guzan
Bacuna
Richards
Clark
Amavi
Gueye
Westwood
Veretout
Agbonlahor
Sinclair
Ayew
Apart from Agbonlahor i’d say that is a pretty decent starting eleven, i’d have preferred Gestede to Gabby though.
Am going 4-1 Villa.
UTV
Don’t understand gabby starting but that front 3 will be very fast!! Is Kozak injured or why didn’t he even make the bench? Still think Richards at CB is a mistake as he made some howlers in pre season against weak opposition either by being so far out of position or trying to beat his man to the ball which is fine at RB but I don’t think he realises yet that at CB if he doesn’t get the ball 1st the they are 1 on 1 with the keeper! Today is the test for him but not even the hardest test so if he fails today he needs to be played in his natural position!
Okay guys. I’m on the beach in southern europe…I need regular updates…
Basically it’s been Bournemouth with possession doing nothing with it and Villa trying to counter.
Micah Richards is a mistake waiting to happen at centre half. He’s a fucking liability!!
Richards consistently proving why Clark should be captain.
Good to see Sinclair finally dropping back. Amavi’s getting tripled all game.
Bournemouth are going to score. the longer it goes on the better there looking.
tim needs to do something.
Agbonlahor is stranded up front with no support.
Amavi’s been decent, Verecout’s tried, Bacuna’s been strong as has Clark. Guzan’s been comfortable, Gueye and Westwood have done their job. Gabby’s been anonymous, Sinclair’s been poor, Ayew’s been anonymous and Richard’s been awful.
Guzan with a great save.
half time 0-0
Amavi been our best player.
Bournemouth all over us for the last 20 mins, Westwood wasteful gabby doing nothing aweye not in the game at all and Richards isn’t proving me wrong yet! Unless massive changes 2nd half we are losing this! With that front 3 we need to play balls in behind and down the channels but all our play is back to goal ball to feet needs to change! We look more technical than last season already but without benteke we hav no chance of scoring, not with gabby up front anyway!
Good first half from Veretout and Gueye. Like the look of Amavi and Bacuna at full backs, both have great pace.
However, we created nothing up front and why is Westwood still taking set pieces?!!
Expected a bit more from us going forward